Tuesday 17 May 2016 19:49, UK
Ravi Bopara produced a fine spell of bowling as Derbyshire were forced to follow on in their Specsavers County Championship Division Two clash with Essex at Chelmsford.
Bopara took 5-49 as Derbyshire were bowled out for 280 in their first innings, but a fine 75 second time around from Billy Godleman at least saw the visitors recover a little to trail by 113 runs going into the final day.
Derbyshire opened the day in a seemingly decent position, sitting on 124-2, but the follow-on target looked a long way off when Bopara accounted for Wayne Madsen (12) and the dangerous Hamish Rutherford for 49.
Neil Broom (33) led a brief response but he was one of four wickets to fall for only 27 runs as they slipped from 178-4 to 207-8.
Tom Taylor (25), Tony Palladino (24no) and Ben Cotton (19) added some valuable runs late on but Essex were able to force the follow-on with Derbyshire 258 runs adrift of their 538-7 declared.
Godleman and Chesney Hughes built a handy opening stand, although Hughes was forced to leave the field on 26 as he was feeling unwell.
His fellow opener continued through to 75, an innings including 10 fours, before debutant Aaron Beard dismissed him for the second time in the match, but Rutherford (20) and nightwatchman Taylor (6) saw them through to 150-1 by the close.
Worcestershire were already well in command after making 491 in their first innings, and their bowlers continued the pattern as the visitors were bowled out for 278 in their reply.
Ed Barnard ended Ben Brown's resistance on 55 and he also accounted for Lewis Hatchett (3) to finish with figures of 3-67.
Joe Leach dismissed Steve Magoffin (20) and Stu Whittingham made only three before becoming the final wicket to fall, leaving Ollie Robinson stranded on 51.
Sussex started their second innings in dogged fashion before Chris Nash was bowled by Jack Shantry for 26 to end an opening partnership of 54 with Ed Joyce.
Matt Henry had Luke Wells caught for 11, but Joyce stayed around until a handful of overs before the close, eventually making 74 before Barnard claimed another scalp.
With Ross Taylor unbeaten on 16, Sussex need a big innings from their overseas signing on Wednesday, still trailing by 76 runs with seven wickets remaining.
Kent go into the final day trailing by 14 runs, but they still have nine second innings wickets remaining on a pitch that has already given up nearly 1,000 runs in three days.
Northants were able to reach 498 in their first innings, a lead of 102, with Adam Rossington anchoring their middle-order with a fine innings of 78.
He added 70 for the eighth wicket with Rory Kleinveldt, and the South African all-rounder hit nine fours and a six in an impressive knock of 71 before departing.
His ninth-wicket partner Olly Stone made 60 before becoming one of three victims for debutant Imram Qayyam - the young spinner ploughed through 41.2 overs of work and took 3-158.
Kent lost Tom Latham for 24 in the early part of their reply, but Daniel Bell-Drummond dug in for 45 and added 34 with first innings double-centurion Joe Denly (18) as they reached 88-1.
All results are possible in Bristol where Gloucestershire have a 234-run lead over Glamorgan with only two second innings wickets remaining.
The home side, opening the day on 60-1, lost Graeme van Buuren for 22 in the second over of the day before Cameron Bancroft and Gareth Roderick added 57 for the third wicket.
Bancroft eventually fell for a fine 70, the first of four wickets for Michael Hogan, and Hamish Marshall hit seven fours and a six before becoming his next victim on 58.
Roderick hung around for 173 balls and more than four hours, but his vigil was ended on 67 when he was trapped in front by Hogan, who ended with figures of 4-68.
But their tailenders provided valuable runs and Craig Miles (23no) and David Payne (9no) had added 31 for the ninth wicket by the time play came to a close.
Glamorgan's biggest enemy could be the weather, with rain forecast as a possible disruptor on Wednesday.
